Overview & Reviews

Originating in the latter half of the 1990s, the Toyota RAV4 was one of the first entries in the small crossover SUV market. Almost two decades later, today's RAV4 is considerably larger than that pint-sized original, but the core appeal of versatility, good fuel economy and favorable on-road manners are firmly intact.

The RAV4 has been very popular with consumers through the years, so there are going to be plenty to choose from if you're searching for a used model. The newest third- and fourth-generation RAV4s are the most family-friendly and come with the most features, but an older RAV4 should still appeal to young families and urban singles in search of a reliable compact crossover SUV.

Current Toyota RAV4
The Toyota RAV4 is offered in LE, XLE and Limited trim levels. All have a 2.5-liter four-cylinder that produces 176 horsepower and 172 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic is standard and buyers can choose either front- or all-wheel drive. With an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in combined driving, the RAV4 is as fuel-efficient as its competitors.

Base LE standard feature highlights include air-conditioning, reclining second-row seats, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, a touchscreen interface and iPod/USB integration. The XLE adds alloy wheels, heated mirrors, a sunroof, dual-zone automatic climate control and sport front seats. The Limited features bigger wheels, a power liftgate, keyless ignition/entry, a power driver seat, heated front seats and faux leather upholstery.
Major options, depending on the trim level, include automatic high beams, blind-spot/lane-departure warning, Toyota's Entune smartphone integration system, a navigation system and premium audio.

In reviews, we've found that this RAV4 gets just about everything right. Its roomy cabin boasts more cargo room than most rivals and provides ample seating space for adults both front and rear. The overall interior design is modern looking, and the Entune system provides useful smartphone app integration, although the touchscreen's virtual buttons can sometimes be finicky to use. There's no engine upgrade available, but the RAV4's 2.5-liter four is refined and adequately powerful. Handling is secure, and the all-wheel-drive system adds further athleticism on curvy and slippery road surfaces. In the interest of comfort, we recommend the smaller wheel options, as the 18-inch wheels tend to have a rougher ride quality.

Used Toyota RAV4 Models
The current, fourth-generation RAV4 debuted for 2013. It maintained the typical RAV4 strengths of carlike driving manners, versatile cargo and passenger configurations and all-around comfort. It's about the same size as the previous generation, but has bolder styling, a more modern interior and some new features. It also has an easier-to-use, top-hinged liftgate instead of the previous swing-out gate, though the previously available third-row seat was discontinued. There have been no notable changes since its debut.

The previous Toyota RAV4 represented the third generation, which Toyota produced from 2006-'12. Compared to earlier models, these RAV4s were bigger and offered an available V6 engine and third-row seat.

In its inaugural third-generation year, two engine choices were offered. A 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine delivered 166 hp and 165 lb-ft of torque, while a 3.5-liter V6 produced 269 hp and 246 lb-ft of torque. Automatic transmissions were standard, with the four-cylinder paired with a four-speed, while the V6 received a five-speed unit.

Three trim levels were also offered: base, Sport and Limited. Base feature highlights included air-conditioning, cruise control, a height-adjustable driver seat and full power accessories. The Sport added 18-inch alloy wheels, a sport-tuned suspension and a roof rack, while the Limited topped it off with 17-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, a power driver seat and an upgraded audio system. A third-row seat, a moonroof, leather upholstery and a DVD-based rear entertainment system were options on upper level trims.

We praised these models for their pleasant driving manners and convenient cargo space, but deducted points for the side-hinged rear gate and noticeable road noise. We also preferred the powerful V6 over the base four-cylinder engine that suffered with its outdated transmission and mediocre fuel economy.

Changes since its debut were minimal but included additional standard airbags in 2007, a slight styling update in 2009 (with an external spare-tire delete option) and a power increase for the four-cylinder engine (from 166 hp to 179 hp). A newly available touchscreen audio interface and Toyota's Entune smartphone apps were introduced for 2012.

The second-generation Toyota RAV4 (2001-'05) was larger than the original RAV4, with more expressive styling and innovative removable second-row seats that gave it truly impressive cargo-carrying capabilities. Early models had a 148-hp, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that came up short versus the larger four- and six-cylinder engines offered by competitors. Toyota addressed this to some extent in 2004 by replacing the 2.0-liter with a larger 2.4-liter four-cylinder good for 160 hp. Acceleration was markedly improved, and buyers could still choose a manual or automatic transmission. Overall, we found this RAV4 to be a fun-to-drive urban runabout thanks to its precise suspension tuning and high fuel economy ratings.

The first-generation Toyota RAV4 (1996-2000) was offered in two-door and four-door body styles, with a convertible version for a brief period. The first-gen RAV4 was appealing to young singles, but due to its narrow width and tight rear legroom, this cute ute was ultimately no substitute for a traditional family vehicle. Advantages included carlike handling, a low cargo floor and a large rear door that made loading cargo a breeze.

User Reviews:

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  2002 RAV4 5spd - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By RB - October 22 - 10:23 am

  Bought new in 2002. 5spd Stick, original clutch still going strong at 100000+... oil changed regularly, front brakes once, tires once, wiper blades, a couple of light bulbs... THATs IT! Terrific little wagon!!! Best vehicle Ive ever owned. Check Engine Light came on after about a year, reprogramming of the module was done at no cost and has never come on since! Id definitely buy another!!!

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  Cute Sport Ute - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By Lexuspeed - October 21 - 2:00 am

  Probably the best mini-ute I have ever driven, for the price range. Especially after 500 miles, it started performing very well, mileage and drivability -- just an overall fun to drive mini-ute.

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  Great so Far - 2011 Toyota RAV4
  By db - October 18 - 5:15 am

  Bought last week. Most expensive vehicle I have purchased. Have been sick of buying cheap cars and having in shop more than actually driving. So far love it. Not a fancy interior but functional and easy controls. Outside looks great. Brakes do grind a bit when first take off but once going stops. Live in Upstate Ny so hopefully it will cut through the snow with the 4 wheel drive. Not sure how the automatic 4 wheel drive will work but we will find out.

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  Best SUV - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By John - October 17 - 5:03 am

  We had 2003 Honda Cr-V. Our new RAV-4 is far superior. Much better performance, handling and much less road noise. The 3.5L 6cyl engine is overkill but we love it! If you got the extra $$ definitely go for along with 4WD. We plan on doing a lot of traveling so extra power and handling are super important to us. Toyota really rang the bell with this model.

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  Disappointed - 2009 Toyota RAV4
  By Dissapointed - October 15 - 2:30 pm

  Leased this car for my kid. The transmission shifts and sounds like a cement mixer. The interior is wall-to- wall plastic with no soft areas. The push button glove box is kind of quirky and small. The center console that houses the radio looks and feels like something from a K-Mart appliance center. The fuel filler door is riveted on and has the feeling it is going to be pulled off if too much pressure is exerted. Car is relatively slow. I should have leased the Jeep Patriot or Ford Escape. RAV4 is acceptable, but certainly not anything that is above the others including the domestics. This is the last Toyota I will purchase.

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  Good, but could use some improvements - 2003 Toyota RAV4
  By Eric - October 14 - 3:03 pm

  This is my wifes car, and she is enjoying it very much, as its been a good car for us. Has a nice ride,very comfortable, does well in the poor weather, and handles great for an SUV. I find the power to be quite adequate(and I Trans Am fairly often!) for most conditions, the only time it is lacking is on steep inclines when the transmission hunts for gears. The negatives are that there is alot of wind, road, and driveline noise that enters the cabin at highway speeds. Also the car has already developed 2 rattles in just over 2 years of ownership - not what I expected from Toyota. Gas mileage is underwhelming for a small car with a small engine, 25mpg is par for highway drives at 65-70.

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  problems...problems - 1997 Toyota RAV4
  By jacobmarley - October 14 - 10:00 am

  overall this has been a great little around town car, though is the past 6 months we have had to re-build the automatic transmission, (very expensive) and replace the front struts (also expensive and hard to find). we have had the car back to the shop 3 times to stop leaks or turn off engine dash light, after the re-build. would not buy another automatic, but would consider a stick shift.

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  4 months and happy - 2004 Toyota RAV4
  By jdean - October 11 - 10:00 am

  This is a very good car. well thought out and well built. Fun to drive. great visibilty. lots of pep and good response. Well satisfied.

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  As much Sport as Utility - 2002 Toyota RAV4
  By Drifter 7 - October 7 - 2:00 am

  My mom bought a 2002 Rav4 in Nov, 2001, after weeks of research. Since then, it has continued to impress us, not only in its performace, but also in the utility and comfort. The only thing we have not been able to fit in was a 56" cabinet; even then, it was only 2 inches too long! The only reason (take note!) that I am not rating it as a perfect 10 is that my car is a 1982 RX- 7, which is a pure sports car. For some one who drives a minivan, itll be a blast!

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  Toyota answers the call! - 2006 Toyota RAV4
  By rustinginvermont - October 4 - 2:26 pm

  I would put this 4WD system up against anything on the road for practical driving purposes. 9 inches of snow were no problem even with all season radials. We had a 1999 but it wouldnt fit an infant seat in rearward position of 2nd row without giving up the passenger seat. On the 06, I drive with my seat in furthest rearward position. My 6 ft. 3 inch friend sat behind me with room to spare between. The turning radius on this seems much better than the 1999 RAV4. Didnt check specs. on that. My wife is still thanking me for buying it (since 1/02/2006). Vermont mountain driving conditions can be scary. Im glad she drives the kids in this.